Audio signal level estimation in cameras

ABSTRACT

A camera system includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a microphone controller. The first microphone and the second microphone are configured to capture audio over a time interval to produce a first captured audio signal and a second captured audio signal, respectively. The second captured audio signal is dampened relative to the first captured audio signal by a dampening factor. The microphone controller is configured to store the first captured audio signal in response to a determination that the first captured audio signal does not clip. In response to a determination that the first captured audio signal clips, the microphone controller is configured to identify a gain between the first captured audio signal and the second captured audio signal representative of the dampening factor, amplify the second captured audio signal based on the identified gain, and store the amplified second captured audio signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/548,146, filed Nov. 19, 2014, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a camera system, and more specifically, tothe selection of a microphone in a multiple-microphone camera system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Digital cameras are increasingly used in outdoors and sportsenvironments. In such environments, the magnitude of audio captured (forinstance, by a camera in conjunction with captured video) can oftenexceed a microphone's capabilities, causing the captured audio to clip.As used herein, “clipped audio” refers to an audio signal captured by amicrophone in which the magnitude of the audio signal exceeds thecapabilities of the microphone (such as an audio threshold), resultingin captured audio data that does not represent the portions of the audiosignal that exceed the audio threshold of the microphone. Such clippedaudio has a lower signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) than the captured audiosignal, decreasing the quality of the clipped audio as compared to theoriginal captured audio signal. Clipped audio can diminish a user'sexperience during playback of the captured audio, and accordingly candiminish a user's experience with a device (such as a camera) used tocapture the audio.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a camera system, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 1b illustrates a perspective view of a rear of the camera system,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of a camera for use with thecamera system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of a rear of a camera for usewith the camera system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating electronic components of acamera, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example microphone controller,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5a illustrates a block diagram of an example level estimationmodule, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5b illustrates example audio signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cameras can use multiple microphones to effectively increase the dynamicrange of the microphones. Such cameras can record extremely loud soundwithout clipping. For example, some cameras include dual membranemicrophones. In a dual-membrane microphone, two separate microphonecapsules are located in close proximity of each other, and eachmicrophone includes a different sound sensitivity. As a result, themicrophones capture substantially the same sound but generate differentaudio signals. For instance, a first of the microphones has a muchhigher gain than a second of the microphones, and the audio signalcaptured by the first microphone has a much greater amplitude than theaudio signal captured by the second microphone.

The figures and the following description relate to preferredembodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that fromthe following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures andmethods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viablealternatives that may be employed without departing from the principlesof what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted thatwherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used inthe figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figuresdepict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles described herein.

Example Camera System Configuration

A camera system includes a camera and a camera housing structured to atleast partially enclose the camera. The camera comprises a camera bodyhaving a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body,various indicators on the front of the surface of the camera body (suchas LEDs, displays, and the like), various input mechanisms (such asbuttons, switches, and touch-screen mechanisms), and electronics (e.g.,imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to the camerabody for capturing images via the camera lens and/or performing otherfunctions. The camera housing includes a lens window structured on thefront surface of the camera housing and configured to substantiallyalign with the camera lens, and one or more indicator windows structuredon the front surface of the camera housing and configured tosubstantially align with the camera indicators.

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate various views of a camera system according toone example embodiment. The camera system includes, among othercomponents, a camera housing 100. In one embodiment, a first housingportion 101 includes a front face with four sides (i.e., a top side,bottom side, left side, and right side) structured to form a cavity thatreceives a camera (e.g. a still camera or video camera), and a secondhousing portion 102 structured to couple to the first housing portion101 and securely enclose a camera within the camera housing 100. Thefirst housing portion 101 and second housing portion 102 can bepivotally coupled via a hinge mechanism (described in greater detail inFIG. 1b ), and can securely couple via a latch mechanism 103. In someembodiments, the camera housing 100 may not include one or more sides orfaces. For instance, the camera housing 100 may not include a front orback face, allowing the front face and rear face of the camera to beexposed when partially enclosed by the top side, bottom side, left side,and right side of the camera housing 100.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 has a small form factor (e.g.,a height of approximately 4 to 6 centimeters, a width of approximately 5to 7 centimeters, and a depth of approximately 1 to 4 centimeters), andis lightweight (e.g., approximately 50 to 150 grams). The camera housing100 can be rigid (or substantially rigid) (e.g., plastic, metal,fiberglass, etc.) or pliable (or substantially pliable) (e.g., leather,vinyl, neoprene, etc.). In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 may beappropriately configured for use in various elements. For example, thecamera housing 100 may comprise a waterproof enclosure that protects acamera from water when used, for example, while surfing or scuba diving.

Portions of the camera housing 100 may include exposed areas to allow auser to manipulate buttons on the camera that are associated with thecamera functionality. Alternatively, such areas may be covered with apliable material to allow the user to manipulate the buttons through thecamera housing 100. For example, in one embodiment the top face of thecamera housing 100 includes an outer shutter button 112 structured sothat a shutter button of the camera is substantially aligned with theouter shutter button 112 when the camera is secured within the camerahousing 100. The shutter button 112 of the camera is operationallycoupled to the outer shutter button 112 so that pressing the outershutter button 112 allows the user to operate the camera shutter button.

In one embodiment, the front face of the camera housing 100 includes alens window 104 structured so that a lens of the camera is substantiallyaligned with the lens windows 104 when the camera is secured within thecamera housing 100. The lens window 104 can be adapted for use with aconventional lens, a wide angle lens, a flat lens, or any otherspecialized camera lens.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes one or more securingstructures 120 for securing the camera housing 100 to one of a varietyof mounting devices such as a clip-style mount. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1a , the camera housing 100 includes a plurality of protrusions124, each including a hole 126 configured to receive a couplingmechanism, for instance, a turnable handscrew to pivotally couple thecamera housing 100 to a mounting device including a plurality ofreciprocal protrusions. In other embodiments, the camera housing 100 canbe secured to a different type of mounting structure, and can be securedto a mounting structure via a different type of coupling mechanism.

In one embodiment, the camera housing 100 includes an indicator window106 structured so that one or more camera indicators are substantiallyaligned with the indicator window 106 when the camera is secured withinthe camera housing 100. The indicator window 106 can be any shape orsize, and can be made of the same material as the remainder of thecamera housing 100, or can be made of any other material, for instance atransparent or translucent material and/or a non-reflective material.

The described housing 100 may also be adapted for a wider range ofdevices of varying shapes, sizes and dimensions besides cameras. Forexample, an expansion module may be attached to housing 100 to addexpanded features to electronic devices such as cell phones, musicplayers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), global positioning system(“GPS”) units, or other portable electronic devices.

FIG. 1b is a rear perspective view of camera housing 100, according toone example embodiment. The second housing portion 102 detachablycouples with the first housing portion 101 opposite the front face ofthe first housing portion 101. The first housing portion 101 and secondhousing portion 102 are collectively structured to enclose a camerawithin the cavity formed when the second housing portion 102 is securelycoupled to the first housing portion 101 in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the second housing portion 102 pivots around a hingemechanism 130, allowing the second housing portion 102 to be either in aclosed position relative to the first housing portion 101 (for instance,when the second housing portion 102 is securely coupled to the firsthousing portion 101 via the latch mechanism 103), or in an open position(when the first housing portion 101 and the second housing portion 102are not coupled via the latch mechanism 103). In the open position, acamera can be removed from or placed into the camera housing 100, and inthe closed position, the camera can be securely enclosed within thecamera housing 100. In one embodiment, the latch mechanism 103 includesa hook-shaped lateral bar configured to securely couple around areciprocal structure of the second housing portion 102. In differentembodiments, the latch mechanism 103 includes different fasteningstructures for securing the second housing portion 102 to the firsthousing portion 101, for example a button assembly, a buckle assembly, aclip assembly, a hook and loop assembly, a magnet assembly, a ball andcatch assembly, and an adhesive assembly, or any other type of securingmechanism.

In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 130 is instead located on thetop face of the housing 100, and the latch mechanism 103 is located onthe bottom face of the housing 100. Alternatively, the hinge 130 and thelatch mechanism 103 may be located on opposite side faces of the camerahousing 100.

In one embodiment, the housing 100 includes a watertight seal so thatthe housing 100 is waterproof when the second housing portion 102 is inthe closed position. For example, in one embodiment, the second housingportion 102 includes a sealing structure positioned on interior edges ofthe second housing portion 102. The sealing structure provides awatertight seal between the first housing portion 101 and the secondhousing portion when the latch mechanism securely couples the housingportions.

FIG. 2a illustrates a camera 200 for use with the camera systemsdescribed herein, according to one example embodiment. The camera 200 isconfigured to capture images and video, and to store captured images andvideo for subsequent display or playback. The camera 200 is adapted tofit within a camera housing, such as the housing 100 discussed above orany other housing described herein. As illustrated, the camera 200includes a lens 202 configured to receive light incident upon the lensand to direct received light onto an image sensor internal to the lensfor capture by the image sensor. The lens 202 is enclosed by a lens ring204.

The camera 200 can include various indicators, including the LED lights206 and the LED display 208 shown in FIG. 2a . When the camera 200 isenclosed within the housing 100, the LED lights and the LED display 208are configured to substantially align with the indicator window 106 andbe visible through the housing 100. The camera 200 can also includebuttons 210 configured to allow a user of the camera to interact withthe camera, to turn the camera on, to initiate the capture of video orimages, and to otherwise configure the operating mode of the camera. Thecamera 200 can also include one or more microphones 212 configured toreceive and record audio signals in conjunction with recording video. Insome embodiments, the camera 200 includes one or more sets ofmicrophones, with each set of microphones including a first microphoneand a second, dampened microphone, where the second dampened microphoneis configured to capture audio at approximately 20 dB (or any othersuitable magnitude) less than the first microphone. The side of thecamera 200 includes an I/O interface 214. Though the embodiment of FIG.2a illustrates the I/O interface 214 enclosed by a protective door, theI/O interface can include any type or number of I/O ports or mechanisms,such as USC ports, HDMI ports, memory card slots, and the like.

FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of a rear of a camera 200 for usewith the camera systems described herein, according to one embodiment.The camera 200 includes a display 218 (such as an LCD or LED display) onthe rear surface of the camera 200. The display 218 can be configuredfor use, for example, as an electronic view finder, to preview capturedimages or videos, or to perform any other suitable function. The camera200 also includes an expansion pack interface 220 configured to receivea removable expansion pack, such as an extra battery module, a wirelessmodule, and the like. Removable expansion packs, when coupled to thecamera 200, provide additional functionality to the camera via theexpansion pack interface 220.

Example Camera Configuration

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating electronic components of acamera, such as the camera 200, according to one embodiment. The camera200 includes one or more microcontrollers 302 (such as a processor) thatcontrol the operation and functionality of the camera 200. A lens andfocus controller 302 is configured to control the operation andconfiguration of the camera lens 202, for instance based on user inputor based on analysis of captured image data. A system memory 304 isconfigured to store executable computer instructions that, when executedby the microcontroller 302, perform the camera functionalities describedherein. A synchronization interface 306 is configured to synchronize thecamera 200 with other cameras or with other external devices, such as aremote control, a second camera (such as a slave camera or mastercamera), an external controller, or a smartphone.

A controller hub 308 transmits and receives information from user I/Ocomponents. In one embodiment, the controller hub 308 interfaces withthe LED lights 206, the display 208, and the buttons 210. However, thecontroller hub 308 can interface with any conventional user I/Ocomponent or components. For example, the controller hub 308 may sendinformation to other user I/O components, such as a speaker.

A microphone controller 310 receives and captures audio signals from oneor more microphones, such as microphone 212 a, microphone 212 b, andmicrophone 212 c. In some embodiments, a first of the microphonescaptures audio at a decibel threshold below a second of the microphones.In such embodiments, the first microphone is referred to as the“dampened microphone”, and the second microphone is referred to as the“standard microphone”. Although the embodiment of FIG. 3 onlyillustrates three microphones, in practice, the camera can include anynumber of microphones, for instance two or more pairs of microphones,wherein each pair includes a standard microphone and a dampenedmicrophone. It should be noted that in some embodiments, a standardmicrophone and a corresponding dampened microphone are co-located(located within a threshold distance of each other), and are configuredto capture the same audio data at different magnitudes (mono audio data,as opposed to stereo audio data).

The microphone controller 310 is configured to control the operation ofthe microphones 212. In some embodiments, the microphone controller 310selects microphones from which audio data is captured. For instance, fora camera 200 with multiple microphone pairs (each pair including astandard microphone and a dampened microphone), the microphonecontroller 310 selects one microphone of the pair to capture audio data.In embodiments where audio data captured by the standard microphone doesnot clip, the microphone controller 310 can select the standardmicrophone as the microphone from which audio data is captured. Inembodiments where audio data captured by the standard microphone isclipped, the microphone controller 310 can detect the clipped audiodata, and can select the dampened microphone as the microphone fromwhich audio data is captured. When the dampened microphone is selected,the microphone controller 310 can amplify the audio data captured by thedampened microphone by a gain equal to the gain difference between thestandard microphone and the dampened microphone to minimize the audiodisruption when switching from the standard microphone to the dampenedmicrophone. Accordingly, the microphone controller 310 can determine thegain difference between the dampened microphone and the standardmicrophone, as described in greater detail below.

Additional components connected to the microcontroller 302 include anI/O port interface 214 and an expansion pack interface 220. The I/O portinterface 214 may facilitate the camera 200 in receiving or transmittingvideo or audio information through an I/O port. Examples of I/O ports orinterfaces include USB ports, HDMI ports, Ethernet ports, audioports,and the like. Furthermore, embodiments of the I/O port interface 214 mayinclude wireless ports that can accommodate wireless connections.Examples of wireless ports include Bluetooth, Wireless USB, Near FieldCommunication (NFC), and the like. The expansion pack interface 220 isconfigured to interface with camera add-ons and removable expansionpacks, such as an extra battery module, a wireless module, and the like.

Microphone Level Estimation

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example microphone controller,such as the microphone controller 310, according to one embodiment. Invarious embodiments, the microphone controller may include a signalselection module 402, a level estimation module 404, and a signalamplification module 406. The signal selection module 402 is configuredto select an audio signal from the audio signals produced by the one ormore microphones (e.g., microphones A-C 212 a-c). The level estimationmodule 404 is configured to determine a gain or amplitude differencebetween an audio signal selected by the signal selection module 402 andthe audio signal produced by the standard microphone. The signalamplification module 406 is configured to amplify the audio signalselected by the signal selection module 404 by the determined gaindifference such that the apparent aural transition between selectedmicrophones is seamless (e.g., free of apparent audio artifacts orsudden amplitude changes).

The signal selection module 402 is configured to select an audio signalfrom the audio signals produced by the one or more microphones at a timepoint. That is, the signal selection module 402 is configured to select,from audio signals produced by the one or more microphones, an audiosignal to be stored. For example, the signal selection module 402 mayselect an audio signal from the audio signals produced by themicrophones A-C 212 a-c. The signal selection module 402 is configuredto select the audio signal, at a particular time point, that has thebest sound quality. That is, the audio signal having the highest signalto noise ratio (SNR) is selected. For example, in some embodiments, theaudio signal produced by the standard microphone is selected as long asit is not clipping, because compared to the audio signal produced by thedampened microphone, the audio signal produced by the standardmicrophone has a better relative SNR (e.g., because both signals havethe same noise floor). When the audio signal produced by the standardmicrophone clips, the audio signal produced by the dampened microphonecan be selected. In some embodiments, the audio signal produced by thestandard microphone is selected even when it is clipped, in response toa determination by the signal selection module that the SNR of the audiosignal produced by the standard microphone is greater than the SNR ofthe audio signal produced by the dampened microphone.

The level estimation module 404 is configured to determine thegain/amplitude difference (or “level difference”) between the selectedaudio signal and the audio signal produced by the standard microphonewhen the signal selection module 402 selects an audio signal other thanthe audio signal captured by the standard microphone. In someembodiments, the level estimation module 404 detects the leveldifference by determining and comparing the time averaged root meansquare (“RMS”) levels of the signals over a period of time. The leveldifference is determined as the ratio of the time average RMS level ofthe audio signal produced by the standard microphone to the time averageRMS level of the selected audio signal (e.g., the audio signal producedby the dampened microphone).

In some embodiments, the level estimation module 404 detects the leveldifference by comparing the slopes of corresponding points within theaudio signal waveforms. In various embodiments, slopes of audio signalwaveforms at zero crossings (locations within an audio signal waveformat which the audio signal crosses the x-axis of the waveform graph) aredetermined. The slope of an audio signal waveform at a zero crossing canbe determined by determining the value of the derivative of the audiosignal waveform at a time associated with the zero crossing. Averagedslope values of audio signals can also be determined over a period oftime. The level difference is determined by the level estimation module402 as the ratio between the slope (or the average of slope values overa period of time) of one signal (e.g., the audio signal produced by thestandard microphone) to the slope (or the average of slope values overthe period of time) of the selected signal (e.g., the audio signalproduced by the dampened microphone). It should be noted that, asdiscussed below with regards to FIGS. 5a and 5b , an RMS measure ofslope values determined over time can be used to determine a leveldifference (as opposed to merely averaging slope values).

When an audio signal other than the signal produced by the standardmicrophone is selected by the signal selection module 402, the signalamplification module 406 is configured to amplify the selected audiosignal by the level difference determined by the level estimation module404. That is, the audio signal is amplified by a gain based on the leveldifference determined by the level estimation module 404.

FIG. 5a illustrates a block diagram of an example level estimationmodule, such as the level estimation module 404, according to oneembodiment. FIG. 5a is discussed in connection with FIG. 5b , whichillustrates example audio signals. The level estimation module 404includes multiple inputs, each of which is an audio signal produced byone microphone. For example, in the illustrated example, the levelestimation module 404 includes two inputs, each of which receives anaudio signal (e.g., the audio signal 550 and the audio signal 552). Thetwo audio signals are produced by different microphones having differentsensitivities. For example, the audio signal 550 is produced by astandard microphone and the audio signal 552 is produced by a dampenedmicrophone. The standard microphone and the dampened microphone capturethe same sound but output audio signals having different magnitudes.When the sound amplitude passes a certain threshold, the audio signalproduced by the standard microphone starts to clip. As illustrated inFIG. 5b , the audio signal 550 produced by the standard microphone isclipped whereas the audio signal 552 produced by the dampened microphoneis not. The microphone controller selects the audio signal 552 when theaudio signal 550 is clipped.

As illustrated in FIG. 5a , both signals are provided to a zero crossingdetector (e.g., the zero crossing detector 502 or 506) which isconfigured to detect the zero crossings of an audio signals. A zerocrossing detector outputs an indicator value (e.g., a value of “1”) whenthe amplitude of an audio signal is equal to zero and outputs aplaceholder value (e.g., “0”) when the amplitude of the audio signal isnot equal to zero. It should be noted that in other embodiments, thezero crossing detector outputs times at which the amplitude of the audiosignal is zero.

In addition, both audio signals are provided to slope determinationmodules (e.g., the slope determination module 504 or 508) which isconfigured to determine the slope of an audio signal. A slopedetermination module outputs a measure of a slope of an audio signal.For example, the slope determination module outputs the value of thederivative of an audio signal. Outputs of a zero crossing detector(e.g., the zero crossing detector 502 or 506) and a slope determinationmodule (e.g., the slope determination module 504 or 508) are provided toa multiplier (e.g., the multiplier 510 or 512), which is configured tomultiply the zero crossing output (from the zero crossing detector) bythe slope output (from the slope determination module). In embodimentswhere the zero crossing detector outputs a “1” when a zero crossing isdetected and a “0” otherwise, the product output by the multiplier isthe slope of the received audio signal at a zero crossing. It should benoted that, in other embodiments, instead of multipliers 510, 512, thelevel estimation module 404 can include multiplexors configured tooutput slopes received from the slope determination modules 504, 508when a zero-crossing control signal is received from the zero crossingdetectors 502, 504. Alternatively, instead of multipliers 510, 512, thelevel estimation module 404 can include controllers configured to outputthe slope values received from the slope determination module 504, 508when the indicators received from the zero crossing detectors 502, 506indicate a zero crossing of an audio signal.

An RMS determination module (e.g., the RMS determination module 514 or516) determines an RMS measure of the slopes of an audio signal (e.g.,the audio signal 550 or 552) at zero crossings over a period of time(e.g., 1000 milliseconds), respectively. The divider 518 determines theratio of the time averaged RMS values of slopes of the audio signals atzero crossings (for instance, the ratio of the RMS value received fromthe RMS determination module 514 to the RMS value received from the RMSdetermination module 516). As such, the level difference between theaudio signals produced by different microphones is determined. The levelestimation module 404, as illustrated, is agnostic to time shifts incases when there is strong clipping. For example, an audio signal 550 atthe zero crossing 554 corresponds to an audio signal 552 at the zerocrossing 556. By determining the ratio between the slope of the audiosignal 550 at zero crossing 554 and the slope of the audio signal 552 atzero crossing 556, the level difference between the audio signals 550and 552 can be determined and the time shift between the audio signal550 and the audio signal 552 can be accounted for.

In a use case, when a first audio signal captured by a standardmicrophone does not clip, the signal selection module 402 selects thefirst audio signal and stores the first audio signal without applying again to the first audio signal. At a later point in time, when the firstaudio signal begins clipping, the signal selection module 402 can selecta second audio signal captured by a dampened microphone. The levelestimation module 404 determines a gain between the first audio signaland the second audio signal, the signal amplification module 406 appliesthe gain to the second audio signal, and the amplified second audiosignal is stored. By applying the gain between the first audio signaland the second audio signal at the transition point between selectingthe first audio signal and the second audio signal, sudden changes inamplitude of the resulting stored audio signal can be substantiallyreduced, reducing audio artifacts, and potentially increasing thequality of captured video.

Additional Configuration Considerations

Throughout this specification, some embodiments have used the expression“coupled” along with its derivatives. The term “coupled” as used hereinis not necessarily limited to two or more elements being in directphysical or electrical contact. Rather, the term “coupled” may alsoencompass two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other, or arestructured to provide a thermal conduction path between the elements.

Likewise, as used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof,are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus.

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the invention. Thisdescription should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for amultiple-microphone camera as disclosed from the principles herein.Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are not limited to the precise construction and componentsdisclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in thearrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosedherein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera, comprising: a first microphone; asecond microphone, the first microphone and the second microphoneconfigured to capture audio simultaneously to produce a first audiosignal and a second audio signal, respectively, and the second audiosignal dampened relative to the first audio signal by a dampeningfactor; and a microphone controller coupled to the first microphone andthe second microphone, the microphone controller configured to: comparea first signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first audio signal to asecond SNR of the second audio signal; in response to a determinationthat the first SNR is equal to or greater than the second SNR, store thefirst audio signal; and in response to a determination that the firstSNR is less than the second SNR: identify a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal, the gain representing the dampeningfactor; amplify the second audio signal by the identified gain; andstore the amplified second audio signal.
 2. The camera of claim 1,wherein identifying a gain between the first audio signal and the secondaudio signal comprises: determining a first averaged Root Mean Square(RMS) representation of the first audio signal and a second averaged RMSrepresentation of the second audio signal; wherein the identified gainis a ratio of the first averaged RMS to the second averaged RMS.
 3. Thecamera of claim 1, wherein identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal comprises: identifying a first slopeof the first audio signal at a first zero crossing of a measure ofamplitude of the first audio signal; and identifying a second slope ofthe second audio signal at a second zero crossing of the measure ofamplitude of the second audio signal, the second zero crossingcorresponding to the first zero crossing; wherein the identified gaincomprises the ratio of the first slope to the second slope.
 4. Thecamera of claim 3, wherein identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal comprises: identifying a first set ofslopes of the first audio signal at a first set of zero crossings ofmeasures of amplitude of the first audio signal; identifying a secondset of slopes of the second audio signal at a second set of zerocrossings of the measures of amplitude of the second audio signal, eachof the second set of zero crossings corresponding to a different one ofthe first set of zero crossings; and determining a first average of theidentified first set of slopes and a second average of the identifiedsecond set of slopes; wherein the identified gain is a ratio of thefirst average of the identified first set of slopes to the secondaverage of the identified second set of slopes.
 5. The camera of claim3, wherein the first slope is the value of a derivative of the firstaudio signal at the first zero crossing and the second slope is thevalue of a derivative of the second audio signal at the second zerocrossing.
 6. The camera of claim 1, wherein the first microphone and thesecond microphone comprise a membrane microphone.
 7. The camera of claim1, wherein the second audio signal is dampened by at least 20 dBrelative to the first audio signal.
 8. A method of recording audio andvideo, comprising: producing a first audio signal by using a firstmicrophone; producing a second audio signal by using a secondmicrophone, the first microphone and the second microphone configured tocapture audio simultaneously to produce the first audio signal and thesecond audio signal, respectively, and the second audio signal dampenedrelative to the first audio signal by a dampening factor; comparing afirst signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first audio signal to a secondSNR of the second audio signal; in response to a determination that thefirst SNR is equal to or greater than the second SNR, storing the firstaudio signal; and in response to a determination that the first SNR isless than the second SNR: identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal, the gain representing the dampeningfactor; amplifying the second audio signal by the identified gain; andstoring the amplified second audio signal.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein identifying a gain between the first audio signal and the secondaudio signal comprises: determining a first averaged Root Mean Square(RMS) representation of the first audio signal and a second averaged RMSrepresentation of the second audio signal; wherein the identified gainis a ratio of the first averaged RMS to the second averaged RMS.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal comprises: identifying a first slopeof the first audio signal at a first zero crossing of a measure ofamplitude of the first audio signal; and identifying a second slope ofthe second audio signal at a second zero crossing of the measure ofamplitude of the second audio signal, the second zero crossingcorresponding to the first zero crossing; wherein the identified gaincomprises the ratio of the first slope to the second slope.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal comprises: identifying a first set ofslopes of the first audio signal at a first set of zero crossings ofmeasures of amplitude of the first audio signal; identifying a secondset of slopes of the second audio signal at a second set of zerocrossings of the measures of amplitude of the second audio signal, eachof the second set of zero crossings corresponding to a different one ofthe first set of zero crossings; and determining a first average of theidentified first set of slopes and a second average of the identifiedsecond set of slopes; wherein the identified gain is a ratio of thefirst average of the identified first set of slopes to the secondaverage of the identified second set of slopes.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein the first slope is the value of a derivative of the firstaudio signal at the first zero crossing and the second slope is thevalue of a derivative of the second audio signal at the second zerocrossing.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first microphone andthe second microphone comprise a membrane microphone.
 14. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the second audio signal is dampened by at least 20 dBrelative to the first audio signal.
 15. A computer program product forrecording audio and video in a camera, the computer program productcomprising a computer-readable storage medium containing executablecomputer instructions for: producing a first audio signal by using afirst microphone; producing a second audio signal by using a secondmicrophone, the first microphone and the second microphone configured tocapture audio simultaneously to produce the first audio signal and thesecond audio signal, respectively, and the second audio signal dampenedrelative to the first audio signal by a dampening factor; comparing afirst signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first audio signal to a secondSNR of the second audio signal; in response to a determination that thefirst SNR is equal to or greater than the second SNR, storing the firstaudio signal; and in response to a determination that the first SNR isless than the second SNR: identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal, the gain representing the dampeningfactor; amplifying the second audio signal by the identified gain; andstoring the amplified second audio signal.
 16. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein identifying a gain between the first audiosignal and the second audio signal comprises: determining a firstaveraged Root Mean Square (RMS) representation of the first audio signaland a second averaged RMS representation of the second audio signal;wherein the identified gain is a ratio of the first averaged RMS to thesecond averaged RMS.
 17. The computer program product of claim 15,wherein identifying a gain between the first audio signal and the secondaudio signal comprises: identifying a first slope of the first audiosignal at a first zero crossing of a measure of amplitude of the firstaudio signal; and identifying a second slope of the second audio signalat a second zero crossing of the measure of amplitude of the secondaudio signal, the second zero crossing corresponding to the first zerocrossing; wherein the identified gain comprises the ratio of the firstslope to the second slope.
 18. The computer program product of claim 17,wherein identifying a gain between the first audio signal and the secondaudio signal comprises: identifying a first set of slopes of the firstaudio signal at a first set of zero crossings of measures of amplitudeof the first audio signal; identifying a second set of slopes of thesecond audio signal at a second set of zero crossings of the measures ofamplitude of the second audio signal, each of the second set of zerocrossings corresponding to a different one of the first set of zerocrossings; and determining a first average of the identified first setof slopes and a second average of the identified second set of slopes;wherein the identified gain is a ratio of the first average of theidentified first set of slopes to the second average of the identifiedsecond set of slopes.
 19. The computer program product of claim 17,wherein the first slope is the value of a derivative of the first audiosignal at the first zero crossing and the second slope is the value of aderivative of the second audio signal at the second zero crossing. 20.The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first microphoneand the second microphone comprise a membrane microphone.